Top five feel-good travel stories in Europe

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Group of touring skiers, the Alps, Valle d'Aosta, Italy. There are multiple reports of 20 inches across the Alps in various regions and as of the turn of the new year, some 60 ski resorts are already open in France, Italy, Austria and Germany.
Group of touring skiers, the Alps, Valle d'Aosta, Italy. There are multiple reports of 20 inches across the Alps in various regions and as of the turn of the new year, some 60 ski resorts are already open in France, Italy, Austria and Germany. Photo Credit: Roberto Caucino/Shutterstock.com
Felicity Long
Felicity Long

At year's end, it's always uplifting to look back and find things to feel good about in the travel industry. But as 2023 fades into history, the news cycle in Europe has been relentlessly grim — so much so that coming up with a happy top 10 list has been especially challenging.

So, with that caveat, I settled for five. Here they are:

Paris 2024, formally known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, will turn up the volume on the City of Light this summer.
Paris 2024, formally known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, will turn up the volume on the City of Light this summer. Photo Credit: INTERPIXELS/Shutterstock.com

Spotlight on the City of Light

Paris 2024, formally known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, will turn up the volume on the City of Light this summer.

Set for July 26 to Aug. 11, the preparations are in full gear, and according to the Paris je t'aime Tourist Office, hotel rooms are available in and around the city with plenty of public transportation to the events.

Sagrada Familia makes progress

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church finally finished erecting the last of its four towers — named for evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — in November. To be clear, the basilica itself isn't finished, but given that the construction of Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece has been underway for more than a century, locals and tourists have all become accustomed to its quixotic, not-quite-done look. The latest on the final, final completion date is 2026. We'll see.

European Green Deal

Sustainable travel in the EU has morphed from a hit-or-miss proposition targeting eco-conscious travelers to a we're-not-kidding mandate designed to reduce the carbon footprint of tourism.

Europeans take climate change seriously, regarding it "an existential threat to Europe and the world, and in response the EU implemented the European Green Deal aimed at achieving no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and "decoupling" economic growth from resource use.

A third of the nearly $2 trillion investments from the EU's overarching recovery plan from the pandemic and the its seven-year budget will go toward financing the European Green Deal.

Ample snowfall in the Alps

Speaking of Mother Nature, she may be mad at us, but she has graciously bestowed some exciting early snowfalls in Europe already this ski season. 

There are multiple reports of 20 inches across the Alps in various regions and as of the turn of the new year, some 60 ski resorts are already open in France, Italy, Austria and Germany.

The same cannot be said for most U.S. ski areas, so this may be the year to head for the hills across the pond.

Word has it that those sky-high ticket prices are dropping for spring and summer.
Word has it that those sky-high ticket prices are dropping for spring and summer. Photo Credit: 06photo/Shutterstock.com

Airfares come back to earth

Last year, the talk was all about revenge travel — the pent-up-demand that inspired people to put up with crowds, travel delays and, most notably, high airfare — and word has it that those sky-high ticket prices are dropping for spring and summer. How long these lower fares last is debatable, especially if the crowds ramp up again, but a recent search from New York to Paris roundtrip, nonstop for the first week in April came in at around $500. I'll take it.

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